“Did you know Anthony looks like shit?”

I sighed and rubbed my face. “Yes, and I’m dealing with it.”

“Are you? Because I don’t really want to lose another member of this family.”

“I’m handling it.” I glared at her. “Is that all you wanted? Just to make sure my men were well rested?”

“Anthony’s not some stupid soldier, you asshole.”

“I know that.”

“Then don’t treat him like one.” She stood in front of my desk with her arms crossed. I tried not to smile. Penny wasn’t very intimidating, although she could muster one hell of an attitude when she needed it.

“I swear, I’m looking out for him.”

“Good. I really hope you are.” Her face relaxed somewhat. “Word is we’re winning this war.”

“So far, so good.”

“What do you plan on doing with Winter when you inevitably kill her best friend’s husband?”

I groaned and looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t need this right now.”

“Yes, you really do. How do you think this is going to play out? You kill Roman, his wife gets over it, and Winter is your everlasting soulmate and totally happy to do freaky things in bed with you forever?”

I made a disgusted face. “Please don’t talk about doing things in bed with Winter, please. It’s pretty gross coming from my younger sister.”

“Don’t gloss over my point.”

“What do you want me to do? I won’t hurt Cassie. That’s the best I can promise.”

“Try harder. If you kill Roman, it’s going to hurt Cassie. You really think things’ll work out if you do that?”

I threw up my hands. I’d thought about this already, but I had no good excuse.

Roman had to die. He represented everything that was wrong with the way the Oligarchs ran the world—and he tried to murder my little brother.

Only blood would answer that crime.

Penny was right though. When I killed Roman, my life would get harder. Cassie was going to freak out and Winter would probably take her side. I didn’t know how I was going to rectify those two things.

I didn’t want to lose Winter. I was beginning to see her as a long-term partner—someone I wanted in my life.

She was clever and strong and every time she was around, I wanted to lose myself in her breasts, her lips, her tongue, that warm, wet pussy between her legs.

“I’ll deal with this later.”

“I bet you will.” Penny rolled her eyes. “You’re going to have to come up with a better plan if you want things to work out in your favor, you know.”

“Penny, I have calls to make.”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were too busy for me.” She walked to the door in a huff. “I’ll go find your wife. I’m sure she’d be happy to talk.”

“I’m sure she would.” Penny threw open the door and I called after her, “Just be careful what you say!”

She disappeared and left me alone.

I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window at the green ocean of grass that rolled down to the tree line. I thought of Winter’s tight ass, her moans, her orgasm.

I thought of her asleep in my bed, breathing slowly but evenly.

A queen for a king.

I’d destroy her in the end. I knew it and Penny knew it too.

Only I didn’t want that to happen. I needed better for once in my life.

There had to be another way out.

26

Winter

I sat with Darren and Anthony in the massive conference room. I felt like an ant crawling around in the middle of a cave.

“You know what you’re going to say?” Darren asked.

Anthony studied me with those disconcertingly blue eyes.

Blue, just like his half-brother.

“I have some ideas.”

Darren didn’t like that. He wanted to know exactly what I’d say to Cass, but I wasn’t sure yet. We hadn’t left that last conversation on great terms, and I didn’t know if Darren was going to take a meeting with Roman.

Or if they were going to keep on trying to kill each other forever.

I dialed the number and put the phone on speaker.

This was Darren’s idea. He’d come to me the night before and had said he’d wanted to find another way out of this situation. I’d listened then said we could always try to work something out with Cassie—she’d be willing to negotiate.

He hadn’t been happy. I could tell this was killing him.

Revenge drove him for years. He’d built his life around murdering Roman for what happened to Anthony. All this time, all this energy, and now he was thinking about changing course.

It must’ve been hard as hell.

And I knew it was the only way.

Cassie picked up. “I didn’t think I’d hear from you again so fast.”

“Darren’s here,” I said, not wanting to mislead her. He gave me a look then glared down at the phone.

“Hello, Cassie,” he said.

She didn’t speak for a long moment. “What’s he doing here?”

“We want to talk,” I said, holding a hand up to Darren. He didn’t like that, but he listened.

Tags: B.B. Hamel Crime
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